Way Too Early Prediction: Alabama ’08

When asked by several friends about the upcoming season’s schedule and Alabama’s prospects following spring practices, I had basically the following predictions to make:

Clemson (at the Georgia Dome): I just don’t see Alabama winning this game. The Clemson offense will be stellar and I don’t think that Alabama’s defense will be in sync yet because there will be a few starters for this game that won’t be starters later in the year. The Tiger’s (first of the three Alabama plays) defense will be just good enough to keep Alabama from getting going in the early season test. I believe Alabama makes it close in the end but Clemson prevails by maintaining their early lead. (Alabama’s Record: 0-1)

Tulane: Alabama comes in hungry and motivated after the opening loss. This one may be close early but Tulane can’t hang, even with the less than stellar Alabama talent; The young guys get to see the field a lot in the second half in this Alabama victory. (Alabama’s Record: 1-1)

Western Kentucky: The youth movement continues as the freshman, red-shirt freshman, and sophmores play a lot in this blow-out Alabama victory. (Alabama’s Record: 2-1)

at Arkansas: While Bobby Petrino will build a good program at Arkansas – if he stays long enough to do that – this will be a rebuilding, or should I say building year, and the talent just isn’t there yet. This is a game Alabama’s young-but-improving defense will need. Alabama covers the spread. (Alabama’s Record: 3-1)

at Georgia: My gut tells me that this could be one of those magical, season defining games, for Alabama, but my brain tells me otherwise. The only reason Alabama took this game to overtime last year was mistakes by Georgia – mainly the tight ends inability to catch passes. I think Alabama keeps this game close, because they will certainly be prepared for it but Georgia is just too talented on both sides of the ball. This could be a magical year in Athens and Alabama can take pride, for now, in the fact that they will play a national championship contender close – I just can’t see them winning it. (Alabama’s Record: 3-2)

Kentucky: Alabama takes out their frustrations over the Georgia loss by taking a depleted Wildcat squad behind the woodshed. This is the game where after the road experiences and adversity of losing, you start to see the defense gain an identity and confidence. The offense may be a little slower to bounce back on this one. (Alabama’s Record: 4-2)

Ole Miss: After Alabama gets the off-weak to heal and rest Ole Miss comes in and shakes them back to reality. Houston Nutt has never been scared of Alabama and he will easily motivate a squad full of kids who have gone through great adveristy – not to mentioned lived with constant fear of having their limbs ripped from their bodies at any moment by The Orgeron – and played Alabama close enough to win every year. I see them jumping out to an early lead with outstanding defense and opportunistic offense (this is nothing new for Alabama vs. Ole Miss). How Alabama chooses to respond will define the rest of the season. Since I’m an unabashed Alabama homer, I believe that the whole team responds and the second half is all Alabama. The Tide wins a game that should be even closer than the last few contests between these schools but won’t be. And if they don’t, pack your bags for Shreveport and dig in for the “I told you so’s”from every corner of the football world. (Alabama’s Record: 5-2)

at Tennessee: In this installment of the greatest contest in College Footballdom, the Volunteers will welcome the Crimson Tide into Knoxville with revenge on their minds and malice in their hearts. It won’t matter; the tide has turned (no pun intended) on this rivalry, and for all the talk about renewed offense and improvement, this is Phillip Fulmer’s last season as the head coach. I don’t know why I believe this – it could very well be my utter loathing of the University of Tennessee – but I think they are in for a tumultuos season. After losses to Florida, Georgia, and UCLA (yes- I said that) the Alabama loss will be the hammer blow to the wooden stake placed in the fat one’s doughnut glazed filled heart. Then again I could be blinded by hatred and have never picked UT (and never will). (Alabama’s Record: 6-2)

Arkansas State: Alabama guarantees at least a trip to Memphis and not a return to Shreveport in the lopsided win that sees the young guys -who will be noticeably improved by this point – play a lot and the streak of November defeats broken. (Alabama’s Record:7-2)

at LSU: I got an email from a friend last week in the minutes after Perrilloux’s dismissal was announced saying that Alabama might now have a chance to beat LSU this season. Saban’s return to Death Valley will be epic and so will the contest as these games always seem to be here lately. Like Georgia and Clemson though, this team is just too talented. Ross’ brother has been mauled in this game the last two seasons and this year will be no different. It will be close, as it usually is, but the LSU defense will again prove to be too much late in the game. (Alabama’s Record: 7-3)

Mississippi State: There will be more pressure on this game than necessary but by this point in the season, Alabama should be a vastly improved team. State, as usual, will not challenge offensively, especially to a defense that is starting to get a good feel of itself (don’t laugh). If the offense can manage not to shoot itself in the foot (and it should by this point) Alabama wins a game that it will be favored in only slightly because of recent past performance (in the series). (Alabama’s Record: 8-3)

Auburn: This game certainly is worthy of its own post but for now I’ll keep it simple. “Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last”. Alabama ends six years of frustration and wins this game coming into it as the favorite for the first time in six years. Alabama wins. Alabama wins. Alabama wins. There will be dancing in the streets and celebrating on the Quad until the wee hours. [editor’s note: the day I predict an Auburn victory is the day I burn everything I own related to Alabama football (which would be a considerable inferno) and quit following football. Call we what you want; irrational, delusional, whatever. I will never, ever, under any circumstances, pick Auburn.] (Alabama’s Record: 9-3)

I intended to go into more detail on this and I probably will closer to the season, but prior to kickoff, because I want to use this as a reference to look at each week as the season progress. So there it is, a little bit of rational thought and a little bit of standard home-cooking. It’s simply my opinion and though Buzz Bissinger may not care what it is, maybe you do. Please feel free to give me your forecasts in the comments.

Also if your interested, Will Heath has taken a look at the SEC West, sans Perrilloux and I think he has some good points.

17 comments

I think Alabama has a better shot against Clemson than you’re giving them. First off, its been my experience that defenses gel must sooner in the season than offenses – and, the being the first game, the offense may not have had the opportunity to really get on track. Further, they will have 4 new starters on the offensive line. Now, we will have new starters on the defensive line and in the linebacker corps, of course… even so, I don’t know that they’ll be able to protect the QB or get enough push for the RBs. And, you can trust Steele/Saban will come up with an aggressive blitz package to take advantage of this apparent weakness. I think Alabama has a real chance if their offense shows up. Otherwise, I agree with your assessment completely.

Oh Lord, here we go. I actually think the Tide can beat Clemson. I honestly think the Tide will be 6-1 when they visit Knoxville. You can’t beat Georgia.

The Tide can’t beat the Vols this year. And Tennessee will beat UCLA and Florida. They probably lose to Auburn and Georgia before we see you.

Beyond that, you lose to LSU and Auburn OWNS you guys so I see the Tide finishing 8-4, probably making their annual visit to Shreveport or perhaps Nashville in the Music City Bowl – Memphis and the Liberty Bowl is an option too.

Forgot to mention I’m going to link to this if I can figure out how trackbacks work with my new site. Any info on that is appreciated. I’ve got the newest WordPress platform and I’m still getting used to it.

im sorry but alabama just cant beat tennessee this year, not with the talent upswing in knoxville from the 2005 and 2006 classes. tn will keep this rivalry uncontestable for the next two years, after that, fucking alabama fo0tball revival.

and ucla beating tenn? id be surprised if they even beat a 1-A team this season. those cats dont even practice! PRACTICE!?

yo check it out ALABAMA has improved offensively. We always had a defense. This is what we were missing; a OFFENSE. Watch this season, I promise ALABAMA will be prosperous. U wanna see magic in athens, sure go to the olympics. Its gone be a good fight for AL and GA, but AL this year is more powerful. Dont believe me. Watch 27th

Jeffery – I don’t know if you’ve read anything else on this site but I’m glad that Alabama won and that my prediction is wrong. I also believe that Alabama will be an underdog when they go to Athens and thus will lose but I’ll still be cheering for them to win and hoping that they do. There is nothing I love more than Alabama but based on the information that is available, to say that Alabama is more powerful than UGA is not objective at all and 99% of people who follow college football would agree – does that mean Alabama won’t win the game? No. It also doesn’t mean you aren’t a fan if you say that.
And unless you’re on the team, the use of the possessive pronouns is a little much. We didn’t win the game Saturday, the Alabama football team did. I don’t sweat through two-a-days and therefore I will not disrespect those that did by including myself with them.